Sales of the B segment are declining in Europe. Ford is discontinuing Fiesta and even Volkswagen is considering scrapping the Polo because of the Euro 7 standard. In the Netherlands, the landscape looks different. In 2022, the Peugeot 208 was the best-selling car and the Corsa finished at number 5. The current Corsa is the German sister of the 208 and we have known it since the summer of 2019. Time for a facelift and then the Vizor nose is inevitable. But there is more to report.
Highlights
- New nose with Vizor grille
- More power and greater range for Corsa Electric
- Mild hybrid petrol engines
- New infotainment with 10-inch screen
It takes little effort to distinguish the current Corsa from the upcoming version, that is soon clear when looking at these images. The Vizor front introduced in 2020 now adorns the nose of Opel’s smallest and it immediately receives standard LED headlights. Opel offers LED matrix headlights as an option. What immediately stands out at the back is the type name written in large letters over the tailgate. In the interior we see new fabrics on the seats and a different steering wheel, still with the familiar Opel buttons. A fully digital set of instruments is available at an additional cost.
Improved infotainment, bigger screen
The navigation system offers online services, voice recognition and over-the-air updates. The displays on the 10-inch screen of the multimedia system and on the driver information display have a higher resolution and therefore a sharper image. Smartphones with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can be connected and charged wirelessly. We also note more assistance systems and a new panoramic reversing camera.
Opel Corsa.
Mild hybrid and fully electric
The Corsa Electric, as it is now called, will also receive the renewed electric powertrain from Stellantis, which means an engine with 115 kW/156 hp, 260 Nm and a larger battery. The range in the WLTP cycle is now 402 km, which was 357 km. The 74 kW/100 hp and 100 kW/136 hp petrol engines are assisted by a 48-volt starter-generator, making these two power sources mild hybrids. They are available with a new dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Opel will open the order books for the updated Corsa sometime in the coming weeks. Delivery will start in the second half of this year.
